AOR Zen Theanine

Zen Theanine is L-theanine, a unique amino acid found primarily in green tea. Studies show that theanine supports alpha-wave brain activity, associated with states of relaxed, peaceful wakeful alertness observed during meditation and biofeedback.*

SUPPLEMENT FACTS:
Serving Size: 1 Capsule

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L-theanine 225mg *

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*Dietary Reference Intake not established.
Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose. Capsule: hypromellose, sorbitol, silicon dioxide, water.

AOR guarantees that no ingredients not listed on the label have been added to the product. Contains no wheat, gluten, corn, nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, fish or shellfish.

Suggested Use
Take one capsule daily, or as directed by a qualified health care practitioner.

Main Applications
As reported by literature:
• Mood support.
• Cognitive support.

Source
Pharmaceutical synthesis.

Pregnancy / Nursing
No studies; best avoided.

Cautions
None known.

AOR Zen Theanine Research

What Is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is a rare amino acid. This amino acid, with apparently only one exception, is found only in certain species of tea plants. It constitutes between 1 and 2% of the dry weight of tea leaves and accounts for approximately one half of all the free amino acids present in the leaves. First discovered in 1949, L-theanine not only is an important health-giving constituent of tea, but also is the major flavor component of green tea.

The Relaxation Factor
Researchers have often wondered why it is that tea, despite its caffeine content, tends to relax individuals without making them drowsy. Similarly, those engaging in meditation practices may drink tea to dispel mental sluggishness and yet not become mentally agitated, as is typical with the consumption of too much coffee. L-theanine appears to be the component in green tea which is responsible for these particular benefits. This is good news for the 65% of adult Americans who suffer from daily stress.

Various tests have demonstrated the anti-stress effects of L-theanine. One of the more revealing of these experiments examined brain wave patterns after the ingestion of L-theanine. This research built upon the knowledge that humans produce specific patterns of electrical pulses on the surface of the brain which mirror brain states. The four primary wave patterns are known as the alpha, beta, delta and theta (a, b, d and q) brain waves, representing, respectively, 1) relaxed wakefulness, 2) excitation, 3) sound sleep, and dozing sleep.

In one experiment, 50 women volunteers (aged 18-22 years old) were divided into high-anxiety and low-anxiety groups. Each group was given either 50 or 200 mg L-theanine in water once a week. Their brain waves were measured during the 60 minutes after ingestion. The measurements were repeated twice during a two-month test period. The results were a marked increase in a-waves starting roughly 40 minutes after ingestion. Researchers concluded that L-theanine rapidly enters the system when ingested and that it heightens the index of the brain wave which is known to be linked to a state of relaxed wakefulness. Researchers also have explored whether the response to L-theanine might be influenced by the level of anxiety found in test subjects. As might be expected, the greater degree of change is found in those manifesting high anxiety.

Improved Learning
Animal tests have been used to find out if L-theanine exerts an impact upon memory and learning ability. In one memory experiment based upon learned avoidance, both active and passive in nature, the L-theanine-treated animals were more successful than controls, and their superiority increased in proportion to the number of tests. In another test which measured learning ability, the L-theanine-treated animals, similarly, out-performed the controls, especially as the tests became more advanced.

Various experiments have attempted to determine how L-theanine achieves its benefits in the areas of relaxation and learning. These tests have shown that the amino acid influences the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. The metabolism of dopamine and serotonin is influenced by L-theanine ingestion.

Benefits for the Liver and Nerve Health
Yet another trial with L-theanine looked at its effects upon liver health. A known liver toxin, D-galactosamine, was employed. L-theanine was shown to be active in preventing injury to the liver, whereas glutamine in equal amounts showed no protective effect. Studies using other models of liver injury also have demonstrated benefits.

L-theanine, furthermore, appears to protect against certain so-called "excitotoxins." It modulates the motor-stimulation associated with caffeine, and it inhibits some of the actions of norepinephrine in the central nervous system, for instance. In tests with gerbils, L-theanine protected against the destruction of neurons induced ischemia, a condition which can lead to a rapid increase in glutamate in neurons and result in the death of these cells.

References
i. He P, Wada S, Watanabe N, Sugiyama K. "Liver injury-preventive effect of tea theanine in rats." Journal of Food Science 2000; 65(1): 30-33.

ii. Juneja LR, Chu DC, Okubo T, Nagato Y, Yokogoshi H. "L-Theanine--a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans." Trends in Food Science & Technology 1999; 10: 199-204.

iii. Kakuda T, Yanase H, Utsunomiya K, Nozawa A, Unno T, Kataoka K. "Protective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine) on ischemic delayed neuronal death in gerbils." Neurosci Lett. 2000 Aug 11; 289(3): 189-92.

iv. Kimura R, Kurita M, Murata T. "[Influence of alkylamides of glutamic acid and related compounds on the central nervous system. III. Effect of theanine on spontaneous activity of mice (author`s transl)]." Yakugaku Zasshi. 1975 Jul; 95(7): 892-5. Japanese.

v. Kimura R, Murata T. "Influence of alkylamides of glutamic acid and related compounds on the central nervous system. I. Central depressant effect of theanine." Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1971 Jun; 19(6): 1257-61.

vi. Sugiyama T, Sadzuka Y, Tanaka K, Sonobe T. "Inhibition of glutamate transporter by theanine enhances the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin." Toxicol Lett. 2001 Apr 30; 121(2): 89-96.

vii. Yokogoshi H, Kobayashi M, Mochizuki M, Terashima T. "Effect of theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, on brain monoamines and striatal dopamine release in conscious rats." Neurochem Res. 1998 May; 23(5): 667-73.

viii. Yokogoshi H, Kobayashi M. "Hypotensive effect of gamma-glutamylmethylamide in spontaneously hypertensive rats." Life Sci. 1998; 62(12): 1065-8.

ix. Yokozawa T, Dong E. "Influence of green tea and its three major components upon low-density lipoprotein oxidation." Exp Toxicol Pathol. 1997 Dec; 49(5): 329-35.

$29.98 CDN